Eight women working to promote peace, justice and fairness in Cambodia have been recognized by a Swiss-based organization attempting to increase awareness of women's contributions to international peace activities.

Seven Camboians and one Australian are among 1,000 women worldwide recognized by an NGO called"1,000 women for the Nobel Peace Prize," according to the group's website. The information was confirmed to VOA's Khmer Service by one of the nominees.

The organization, based in Bern, Switzerland and under the patronage of the Swiss governmnet's UNESCO commission, has been aiming to put forwar the group of 1,000 women as a single nomination for this year's Nobel Peace Prize, one of the world's most prestigious annual honors. The 2005 winner is expected to be announced in mid-October.

The group's website explained that the goal is, not so much to obtain the 2005 award for the womrn, but to highlight and "spread the word" about the courageous and committee work being done around the world by hundreds women to facilitate peace in the harsh world.

The group spent three years researching the activities of women around the world and settling on the list, according to the websiste.